Climbing in Red Rocks after heavy rain can permanently damage the rock! MORE INFO >>>

The sandstone in Red Rocks is fragile and is very easily damaged when it is wet. Holds rip off and climbs have been and will continue to be permanently damaged due to climbers not respecting this phenomenon. After a heavy storm the rock will remain wet, sometimes for several days. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB IN RED ROCKS during or after rain. A good rule of thumb is that if the ground near your climb is at all damp (and not powdery dry sand), then do not climb. There are many alternatives (limestone, granite, basalt, and plastic) nearby.

This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund,
and Mountain Project.You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates.

Description

Immediately upstream from the Solar Slab is the Black Orpheus Amphitheater. This huge bowl faces generally south and is separated from the main part of the Solar Slab Buttress by the lengthy Sunspot Ridge. The amphitheater itself can be divided into three sub-areas. The tall central section is the site of the Black Orpheus route. This reaches the very top of the Solar Slab Buttress and follows the descent routes described in that section.

The left side of the amphitheater is the Black Arch Wall. The routes here are shorter and end in the Painted Bowl. Most of these routes are best approached from near the upstream end of the Amphitheater, just before the first fork of Oak Creek. Although it would be possible to descend by walking down the Painted Bowl, or continuing up to link with one of the higher routes, the most common descent uses two double rope rappels starting at a bolted anchor right at the top of Plate of Fate. If approaching this anchor from above, go to the area of vegetation at the easternmost part of the Painted Bowl. You need to scramble down for fifteen feet of third class before you can see the bolts.

The right (downstream) side of the Black Orpheus Amphitheater is a southwest-facing alcove with several medium-length routes. These are best approached by starting out of the streambed as for Black Orpheus, then quickly traversing right to a steep gully. The routes end in a low-angle broken area just to the west of the notch on Sunspot Ridge. The obvious descent is to scramble right (east) to the notch, downclimb fifteen feet, rappel from a small bush to ledges at the top of Solar Slab's second pitch, then continue down the Solar Slab rappels. Alternatively, one could climb the last pitches of Sunspot Ridge or work west to the slabby middle section of Black Orpheus and ascend that route.

Getting There

Follow the Oak Creek Trail. Shortly after passing beneath Solar Slab, the continues west and drops into the streambed. Scramble over the boulders until a weakness in cliff bands allows ascent to the walls several hundred feet up.

The Secret World of Arrietty climbs the arch-feature immediately left of the Plate of Fate, pulling through the massive yawning roof right at it's widest. This is a great new route with wild and burly climbing, mostly excellent rock, and great pro. No move is probably harder than 10d, but the cumulative effects of placing gear and sussing out the sequences on the fly are quite taxing - especially if you're not good with your knee bars or hand jams! Super fun and awaiting a second ascent! Begi...[more]Browse More Classics in NV

WARNING: Plate of Fate Descent out of Painted Bowl is Dangerous! As mentioned in the description "the most common descent uses two double rope rappels starting at a bolted anchor right at the top of Plate of Fate"this rap was the fast was out of Painted Bowl instead of the long walk out. There has recently been some large geological shifting happening above the "Plate of Fate". If you happened to dislodge one of these loose section either trying to get to the rappel or when pulling your rope you could send hundreds of large 200+ pound boulders down on top of you. It is sad to see the fast descent out of this bowl become so dangerous, but better to be safe than sorry.

Descent down this route is fine, though as always there's some looseness in the area between the summit tree and the rap bolts. A trundle party wouldn't be a terrible idea on a rainy day for a helpful soul, but we rapped it today and weren't worried about geology at any point. Single 70 works perfect, all cord solid on 12/11, not a bad idea to bring a chunk as backup as per usual in Red Rock.

As of November 2014, the rappels down Plate of Fate were set up with three two-bolt stations with rings, allowing for three one-rope rappels. The top station is lower than some people expect, judging by the tat left on the tree.